With the 84th Geneva Motor Show in full swing from today, we bring you some of the standout vehicles making their debut in Switzerland.
1. Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
This prototype weighs just 60 kg more than the coupe, thanks to the use of a lightweight canvas roof, and carbon-fibre rollover hoops and windshield frame. Apart from its drop-top ability, the 4C Spider can be visually distinguished from its coupe Sibling by its new headlamp housings and alloy wheels. The 4C Spider is powered by the same 1,8–litre turbopetrol four-cylinder motor that does service in the regular 4C, with power sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Alfa Romeo claims a 0-100 km/h sprint of just 4,5 seconds and top speed in excess of 200 km/h.
2. Audi TT
The third generation Audi TT clearly hasn’t departed far from the example set by its predecessors – as well as draw some inspiration from last year’s Sport Quattro Concept. The designers have followed an evolutionary approach, while tightening up certain styling elements like the narrower headlamps and sharper-angled grille. Two turbopetrol engines and single turbodiesel motor will comprise the initial powerplant line-up, producing 137 kW, 191 kW and 230 kW respectively.
3. Audi TT Quattro Sport
This concept points to what the new generation TT-RS could look like, and perhaps what’ll lie underneath its clamshell bonnet. The Quattro Sport’s exterior is a lot more aggressive courtesy of a lowered ride height, flared fenders that house 20-inch wheels, a deeper front airdam with larger intakes, and spoilers front and rear. It’s powered by a 313 kW version of the company’s 2,0-litre turbopetrol four-cylinder motor that sends nearly 450 N,m of torque to all four corners via a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.
4. Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430
The hardcore version of the V8 Vantage boasts a 320 kW (430 horsepower) version of the company’s normally-aspirated 4,7-litre V8 that thanks to a six-speed manual gearbox helps the N430 reach 100 km/h from rest in just 4,6 seconds and reach a top speed of in excess of 300 km/h (a seven speed automatic is also available). Inside, customers can have weight-saving carbon-fibre trim and Kevlar seats, but also a Bang and Olufsen sound system packing 1 000 watts. The N43O is easily distinguished through its contrasting exterior colour around the grille, on the exterior mirrors and along the edges of the roof.
5. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Probably BMW’s most important model at Geneva is the one that’ll tread new waters for the manufacturer in the small-MPV segment, the 2 Series Active Tourer. On top of that, it’s the first front-wheel drive BMW in the company’s 98-year history. The 2 Series Active Tourer will be powered by a choice of two turbopetrol powerplants (1,5-litre three-cylinder and 2,0-litre four-cylinder) and a single turbodiesel motor (another 2,0-litre four-cylinder motor).
6. BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe has now added to the melee of the Munich-based brand’s niche-busting product line-up. Apparently, the new Gran Coupe shares a similar roofline to the normal 4 Series (which we though was a coupe-only model), but there are hints of 3 Series GT about the profile – making it very difficult to distinguish between the two. What’s the difference between a regular 3 Series and 4 Series Gran Coupe? Your guess is as good as ours…
7. Citroën C1
The new C1, which shares its underpinnings with Toyota’s Aygo and Peugeot’s 108, will go on sale later this year. Distinguishing it from its cousins is the unusual headlamp arrangement that seems to have consisted of narrow elements just like on larger Citroën offerings – only to have round units slapped on like an afterthought. Weighing in at just 840 kg, the C1 should be quite peppy around town thanks to 51 kW 1,0-litre and 61 kW 1,2-litre three-cylinder motors. Inside, there’s an infotainment system that displays through a seven-inch touchscreen, as well as heated front seats, climate control and reverse camera.
8. Ferrari California T
Ferrari’s entry-level prancing horse has received a shot in the arm thanks to its new turbocharged 3,9-litre V8 that produces in excess of 410 kW and a mammoth 760 N.m of torque (a 50 per cent increase in torque over the normally aspirated V8). A 0-100 km/h sprint of just 3,6 seconds and top whack of 316 km/h is what the Maranello-based firm claims its new baby is capable of. Revised suspension and steering should also improve the California’s handling.
9. Ford Focus
The Blue Oval’s updated C-segment contender has been the recipient of a much wider grille and elongated headlamps, but the really big news around the Focus is the introduction of the second generation SYNC infotainment system that Ford claims is a lot more intuitive than the outgoing interface – with a voice-control system that behaves like a really helpful passenger. According to Ford, “pushing the voice control button and saying ‘I’m hungry’ will bring up a list of local restaurants,” for example. No word on whether it’ll easier respond the wide variety of South African dialects though.
10. Honda Civic Type R
The long-awaited Civic Type R may still be in concept form, but if it goes to production looking as wild as this (massive spoilers, scoops and fenders), it’ll sure get tongues wagging. The fourth generation of Honda’s manic front-wheel drive hot hatch will for the first time use forced induction to put it on equal footing with its turbocharged rivals. The turbocharged 2,0-litre direct-injection motor will produce at least 206 kW and Honda isn’t hiding the fact that the Civic Type R will be targeting a Nurburgring Nordschleife front-wheel drive lap record.
